Innovative Film To Be Shown At HCC

BRIDGEPORT — Dear Beautiful, an experimental animated film by the Bridgeport filmmaker and painter Roland Becerra, will be screened on October 11 at Housatonic Community College.

The film focuses on Paul and Lauren, a New Haven couple whose relationship is in trouble. Exotic flowers start springing up, spawning an epidemic that threatens to destroy the city. Lauren becomes infected. As the city is engulfed with infected people, a media frenzy, National Guard troops, protesters, and a panicked populace, Paul struggles to save both their lives.

“The process I used in making the film combines both flash animation and stop-motion animation techniques,” Mr Becerra said. “Backgrounds are hand painted and characters are drawn with ink.”

“Everything is then photographed and brought into the computer,” he added. “Photographs of figures are also taken, then individually cut out and digitally altered in Photoshop to match the paintings and drawings.”

The film and accompanying reception is just one of numerous activities planned at the college on October 11 in connection with the October 12 inauguration of new HCC President Anita T. Gliniecki.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place at 7 pm in the Burt Chernow Galleries at the college; use the entrance at 90 Lafayette Boulevard to gain access to the campus and galleries. Call 203-332-5000 for additional information.